A Senator in California is presenting a new tax law aimed straight at the middle class: a tax levied for each mile you drive in your personal vehicle.

The tax is being introduced as the current revenue from the current gasoline tax drops due to more and more Americans driving fuel-efficient cars. The tax would be levied by your car insurance company, who would check the mileage on each and every vehicle you insure and add the tax to your monthly bill.

Democrats support the new tax for two reasons: one, it would encourage people to drive less and thus help the planet, and two it would generate much needed revenue for states as they struggle to pay their bills.

Republicans are arguing that this is simply another tax hike by Democrats aimed at destroying the middle class and thus putting more and more Americans who once were able to fend for themselves on government-assistance programs. They are upset about the already enormous tax burden on the shrinking workforce. People who work for a living must commute, and with public t***sportation really only being available in urban communities, they would have no choice but to pay this additional tax along with the taxes they already pay: gasoline and sales tax, fees for license and tags, clean air taxes, as well as a slew of other taxes and fees.

So now those who chose to help out the planet by choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle gets punished?

What do you think?

BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com) — The California Legislature is looking at a voluntary program that would tax motorists for every mile they drive.

KCAL9’s Bobby Kaple reports that Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, introduced a bill to test out the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax because the state’s gas tax was no longer bringing in the revenue it used to due to people driving more fuel efficient vehicles.

The program is modeled after ones in Oregon and Washington.

“We want to do as Washington and Oregon have done in a much bigger state with much longer commutes…to make sure that we find out whether it would work, whether the public would like it or not,” DeSaulnier said.

It’s unknown how much the tax would be, but Oregon currently charges its volunteers 1.5 cents per mile.

“All of those things would be determined. We would let the agency determine that because this would be a voluntary program,” DeSaulnier said.

Southland commuters were not thrilled about the idea of a VMT tax.

“I bought a hybrid…one, because of my drive. I’m very opposed. I drive to Brentwood every day from Burbank, and I am already paying more than I should be,” Carmen Smith said.

“So if we go on vacation and I drive up to Mammoth, that’s 600 miles. We’re being taxed on vacations?” Kim Robinson said.



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I heard about this about 2 years ago.It is already being tested in some states.I live in Columbia,S.C. Richland county. We are already paying 3 separate taxes for our roads and bridges.Gas tax,1 cent sales tax and a road fee [tax]of$20-$30 per vehicle we drive.I also heard that little black boxes would be installed in all our cars.The new cars already have this in them[didn't know that did you?]Our roads are falling apart and they are patching them instead of doing the proper repairs.Where the hell is all our money going? NOT to fix the roads.